A review by killa_bunnies
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

 

An epic tale of medieval horror. At least that’s what the cover promises. Does it deliver? 

I stumbled upon Buehlman’s Between Two Fires by accident: I have been looking for books emulating at least closely the atmosphere of Dark Souls games. This is not exactly it (although the crestfallen, melancholic overall mood and desperation is present here strongly), it delivers something much more interesting: a on-the-road novel about a band of outcasts brought together by fate (or God or higher purpose or whatever). Is it epic? In a way, yes. Is it epic high fantasy? No way (and that’s good in my books!). I love books that feature outcast characters, outsiders, people who are not some spoiled brats who will change the fate of the whole world, but more like dirt & blood type of characters dragged by the events, rather than creating the events. And there is plenty of that. 

The whole setting of medieval France plagued (pun intended) by war with Englishmen and suffering under the Black Death, is refreshing for a fantasy setting. Actually for some time the book looks more like a story set in historical France, rather than fantasy about the war between good and evil. This niveau of realism is supported also by the vocabulary and level of details Buehlman is using to populate his book. So all in all this was one of my most enjoyable literary moments this year. Highly recommend it!